Divabetic Reader #4: Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews

I find it fascinating that the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads Mary Kay Andrews never fails to mention diabetes in her novels. I feel like she’s as obsessed with raising awareness for diabetes as I am. 

Every one of her books that I have read has made some mention of diabetes. But, usually, there’s little to no information shared about living with diabetes past the initial reference which always bugs me.

One of the characters, Mrs. Lorraine DuBignon Conley, referred to as ‘G’mama,’ has prediabetes in her latest book, Hello, Summer.

The first reference to prediabetes comes on page 20. G’mama’s housekeeper, Winnie, tells G’mama’s youngest granddaughter, Conley, that her grandmother refuses to fill her prescription. 

Conley asks her defiant G’mama if she has checked her sugar yet?  

G’mama responds, “Not you too.” Then adds, “my blood sugar is perfectly fine.” 

The following reference comes on page 156. G’mama says, “I’m a grown woman, and I can eat whatever I want.” 

Thankfully, this time Mary Kay Andrews provides a bit more information about managing prediabetes. 

 Conley replies, “No. You can’t. According to your doctor, you’re prediabetic. You’ve got to limit your carb intake, eat protein, balance your diet, and drink plenty of fluids. Preferably not black coffee. 

This sound advice is rather shocking since the author seldom educates her readers about diabetes self-care. I only wish there was more information sprinkled throughout the book. 

Although recent statistics state that 88 million U.S. adults, or 1 in 3 – have prediabetes, most people don’t know what it is. 

Prediabetes means a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.

A quick Google search will inform you that normal blood glucose levels for adults without diabetes range from 90 to 110 mg/dL. However, every person is different, so it’s essential to have your doctor check your blood sugars. 

Without intervention, many people with prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years, which puts them at risk of health complications such as heart issues, stroke, vision loss, and kidney failure. 

Of those 88 million living with prediabetes, more than 8 in 10 of them don’t even know they have it. 

The risk factors for prediabetes include:

  • Being 45 years or older.
  • Being overweight.
  • Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.
  • Being physically active less than three times a week.
  • Having gestational diabetes.
  • Having polycystic ovary syndrome. 

African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.

Could You Have Prediabetes?

Take this QUICK QUIZ 

Our special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND for Divabetic’s upcoming Salad-Making Party on Zoom scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST is the author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide. This comprehensive guide will lead you through dozens of concrete steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Taking an individualized approach to your lifestyle reset, Prediabetes: A Complete Guide will allow you to choose your own path to wellness and help you gain a greater sense of wellbeing, boost confidence in your abilities to maintain a healthful lifestyle, and potentially even help you reverse prediabetes, avoid type 2 diabetes and other chronic illnesses, and have you feeling better than you have in years!

As obsessed as I am about finding misinformed references to diabetes in her books, I still enjoy Mary Kay Andrew’s storytelling. Her easy-to-read style and the blend of romance and mystery make for a winning combination. 

Not surprisingly, I fell in love with the character, the Silver Bay Beacon’s society columnist, Rowena Meigs. Her ridiculously long narratives in which she describes the food and the fashion in glorious detail, along with each notable attendee’s family lineages at soirees happening around town, are delightful. 

I remember watching the documentary, Bill Cunningham New York, about New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham, who said he was just as fascinated by who was talking to who at charity parties as he was in what anyone was wearing. For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist chronicled fashion trends and high-society charity soirées for the Times style section. His lens zoomed in on the ultrawealthy of New York and the Hamptons networking with one another.

Legendary New York Post celebrity and gossip columnist Cindy Adams also made a career writing about famous people networking with each other. But she’s not is a fan of the term “gossip” and admits she didn’t set out to be a newspaper writer.

“I don’t like the word gossip because it’s pejorative,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be nasty and biting. It should be chatty. It should be funny. It should be something you do over coffee in the morning,” she told Mo Rocca in an interview for “CBS Sunday Morning”. 

I couldn’t agree more!

Here’s a short synopsis of Hello, Summer:

Conley Hawkins left her family’s small-town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.

For small town scandals…

When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat—and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”

And big-time secrets.

Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer.

What am I eating when I’m reading Hello, Summer? FIBER!

Did you know that fiber-rich foods slow down the delivery of glucose into the bloodstream? Your blood sugar levels will gradually rise. Even more, fiber-rich foods tend to keep us satiated for longer periods of time, which helps with weight loss.

New research finds that adding fiber to your diet can help combat the effects of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. But only 25 percent of adults get the recommended amount of fiber daily.

Are you struggling with ways to add more fiber to your diet?

Then why not try Omega3NutraCleanse®?

Omega3NutraCleanse® is a delicious, gluten-free, organic flaxseed blend rich in fiber and nutrients.  Recently their marketing team sent me a 14.8 oz sample to try. I love it! After I consulted with my doctor about adding it to my diet, I started adding it to my morning bowl of nonfat, plain yogurt, and berries. It has a nutty flavor that I enjoy. This product compliments Keto, 0 Net Carbs, Paleo, and Vegan lifestyles. And just like their website states: ‘O3NC is a simple way to get the right amount of fiber to keep your inside healthy’.

Talk to your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTRATION – REGISTER NOW 

Divabetic Cozy Mystery: Kill Me Madam, Part 7

With less than two hours before the official start of the competition, our amateur sleuths, attired in full pirate regalia, hurry to Britannia Coffin’s historic mansion on the cliff overlooking the ocean. They scramble over a wall of sandbags and enter through the unlocked back door.

Patricia: These gold framed portraits lining the hall must be the Hussey family ancestors.

Mama Rose Marie: And I’ll bet that room at the end of the hall is Britannia’s office.

Max: I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here! If I get arrested, it’s all Renata Whisk’s fault!

Tonya: Renata Whisk didn’t buy the food processor – you did, Bartholomew!

Patricia: Well, Loretta is certain Britannia stole the whales’ teeth. If that’s true. They must be here somewhere.

MaryAnn: Let’s look around. Maybe they’re in one of these boxes?

Mama Rose Marie: This box is filled with insulin pens, vials and cartridges.

Max: Same with this one! Maybe she was planning to donate these supplies.

Patricia: New, unopened medical supplies can be donated to the regions impacted by natural disasters. But, you need to make sure they haven’t expired.

Tonya: Look, what’s in this box. It’s loaded with herbal medicines and supplements.

MaryAnn: It looks like she was searching for a quick fix to manage her neuropathy.

Max: She was probably hoping to use it during the competition to alleviate her foot pain.

MaryAnn: She wasted her money. There is no quick fix. The best way to help minimize pain is to stick to proper diabetes self-care management.

Mama Rose Marie: Well, we’ve searched all these boxes and there’s no sign of the whales’ teeth.

MaryAnn: Hold on, look what I found on her desk.  This stack of overdue bills explains why Britannia was so desperate for money. She must’ve spent close to a million dollars on sandbags, flood insurance and healthcare. It looks like Loretta was telling us the truth about Britannia’s money problems.

Mama Rose Marie: Hmmm, the high costs of healthcare seems unavoidable. What can you do?

Patricia: Make certain you understand all your healthcare benefits. Many people don’t know what their plans will and will not cover until it’s too late.

Max: Yeah, but check out this card I just found. It says, “This year you’ll be the one dying with envy!” And look,  it is signed by Loretta.

Patricia: That sounds like a death threat to me.

Max: Geez, some people will do just about anything to win a baking competition!

Tonya: Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

SOUND EFFECT: Footsteps (shorter) needs a crash 

Mama Rose Marie: Shush! Everyone be quiet. I think I hear someone in the hall.

Loretta:  What’s going on?  How did you get in here?

Tonya: Loretta! We can ask you the same question. You scared us half to death.

Loretta: I’m looking for the stolen whales’ teeth. I’m certain Britannia stole them to collect on the insurance.

Tonya: Well, they’re not here.

Loretta: Why should I believe you? Look at you, you’re dressed as pirates. For all I know, you helped Britannia steal the whales’ teeth.

Max: No! I’m just a baking competitor.

Tonya: You see “Bartholomew” here has a bad habit of being in the right place at the wrong time when someone gets murdered. But he’s perfectly harmless. We’re trying to solve Britannia’s murder so the police don’t arrest him.

Loretta: Then the police need to interrogate Goldie Highcastle. Britannia couldn’t have robbed the museum by herself. There are too many stairs. She had to have an accomplice.

Tonya: You think Goldie helped Britannia rob the museum?

Loretta: Britannia asked Goldie if she knew of any tycoons interested in buying ivory when we were in her store this morning.

Max: Was she talking about the whales’ teeth?

Loretta: What else? Like I said earlier, those ivory teeth are worth $5 million dollars.

Tonya: That gives Goldie another motive for murder!

Loretta: I wouldn’t put it past her. Goldie makes a living profiting off other people’s misfortunes. She probably helped Britannia steal the whales’ teeth and then killed her so she could keep the money all to herself!

Max: So … You DIDN’T kill Britannia to win the baking competition?

Loretta: You must be joking! I had to withdraw from the competition this morning to search for the whales’ teeth. But if they’re not here, where else can they be?

SOUND EFFECT: Phone rings  

Max: Hello? This is Ma-x, I mean Max-well. Bartholomew Ma –. What’s up? (Pause) Oh no! That’s terrible.

Tonya: Another murder?

Max: Worse. The finals are about to start, and I still need to finish making my pie!

TO BE CONTINUED 

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, Kill Me Madam, cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

 

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Tea Party with special guests, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller, Tessie’s Teas’ owner Rose Hall and Harlem Heaven’s Hats owner Evetta Petty on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTER – REGISTER NOW 

 

Divabetic Cozy Mystery: Kill Me Madam, Part 4

Before Millicent Merriweather can get a good look at Max, our team dashes out the door and runs across the parking lot to the Treasure Island Antique Shoppe, where the owner, Goldie Highcastle, is busy sweeping up shards of broken porcelain from the floor.

SOUND EFFECT: store bells

Goldie: Ahoy Maties! Welcome to Treasure Island Antique Shoppe: the finest heirlooms from the Seven Seas, at rock bottom prices guaranteed. Hey, how about a sword to go with your outfit, Mr. Tall, Dark and Haggard?

Tonya: Actually, we’re here about the murder.  Did you see what happened? Your store is awfully close to where they found Britannia Coffin’s body.

Goldie: I didn’t see a thing. But Britannia did come in here earlier. She brought me this box of sugar substitute as a peace offering. She said it spiked her blood sugars, I wonder if that’s true?

MaryAnn: Artificial sweeteners generally don’t raise blood sugars. But research shows that they can change gut bacteria with prolonged use. And that can lead to weight gain.

Goldie: Really? Why is that?

MaryAnn: Gut bacteria in your intestines digests foods and produces chemicals to help you feel full.

Patricia: Artificial sweeteners can also change your taste preferences over time increasing your desire for sweets. Lowering your stress levels and staying hydrated can help.

Goldie: But if I like something sweet. What else can I use instead of this sugar substitute?

MaryAnn: Try a plant-based sugar alternative like Stevia. Or for a little sweetness add cinnamon, especially in coffee.

Tonya: Can we get back to Britannia? Why was she here?

Goldie: Oh right, she brought in a box of things she wanted me to sell on consignment. Some of Loretta Hussey’s family antiques. I didn’t see anything I liked so she said she’d go home and come back with more.

Tonya: And what time did she come back?

Goldie: Sooner than I hoped for. All hell broke loose when she got back. Loretta Hussey was in here looking at my collection of cat o’ nine tales! I don’t know who she was planning to flog.

Mama Rose Marie: Oh, my!

Goldie: Britannia walked in smiling like a Cheshire cat. It’s as if she knew Loretta would be here. Britannia Coffin loved making Loretta’s life miserable.

Tonya: What happened?

Goldie: Well! When Loretta saw her father’s prized porcelain lobster claw was in the box of things Britannia had brought me to sell, she went berserk. She snatched it out of the box and started running for the door. Britannia tripped her with her poles and started whacking Loretta with them. But, one of her poles hit the lobster claw and shattered it into a million pieces. Loretta looked like she wanted to kill her.

Mama Rose Marie: That seems like an overreaction.

Goldie: The next thing I knew Britannia Coffin was dead.

Max: Wait, aren’t those Britannia’s walking poles in your umbrella stand? She left without them?

Goldie: Look, I had to stop her from breaking everything in the store. I wrestled them away from her.

SOUND EFFECT: Phone rings

Goldie: Excuse me. Hello, Treasure Island Antiques Shoppe where you’ll find the finest heirlooms from the Seven … Oh no! Loretta, that’s horrible!!! (to them) I can’t believe it! There’s been another robbery. Someone broke into the Hawden House Museum across the street!

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast, Kill Me Madam, cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.